The Supreme Court on Friday granted bail to filmmaker Vikram Bhatt and his wife Shwetambari Bhatt in a cheating and criminal breach of trust case involving alleged misappropriation of ₹30 crore. The couple had been in judicial custody since December 7, 2025.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi directed their immediate release from Udaipur jail and instructed the Chief Judicial Magistrate concerned to issue the bail order, setting out the terms and conditions.
In addition to granting bail, the Supreme Court issued notices to the complainant Ajay Murdia—founder of Indira IVF and Fertility Centre and a resident of Udaipur—and the Rajasthan government. The matter will now be heard on February 19.
The case stems from a complaint filed by Murdia alleging that Vikram Bhatt, Shwetambari Bhatt, and others had misappropriated funds amounting to ₹30 crore. The money, according to the complaint, was advanced for the purpose of producing films but was allegedly diverted by the accused for personal use.
Murdia claimed that the accused fabricated fake bills and used multiple names to channel the funds into their own accounts. Following the complaint, Rajasthan Police arrested Vikram Bhatt, his wife, Udaipur-based Dinesh Kataria, and Bhatt’s manager Mehboob Ansari from Mumbai on December 7, 2025, and brought them to Udaipur.
Earlier, on January 31, the Rajasthan High Court had denied bail to Vikram Bhatt and Shwetambari Bhatt, observing that releasing them at that stage would not be appropriate given the gravity of the allegations.
With the Supreme Court now intervening, the couple will be released on bail, subject to conditions to be laid down by the Chief Judicial Magistrate.
The matter remains under investigation, and further proceedings in the case are scheduled for February 19.
